Alim_Portfolio

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Table of contents

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09 Ishila Alim_portfolio_selected works

// CV // References

01

Stuttgart: Juxtaposed 01

02

Life at the Edge 03 academic project

03

Integrated Agro Hub 07 academic project

04

Saiham Knit Factory Landscape 13 professional project

05

Aftab's Dream Residence 17 professional project

06

Bamboo Playscape 19 professional/hands on

07

Kindai Street Fest 21 competition entry

Vulnerability & Coping Mechanism 23 master thesis

08 09

architectural imagery

Photography 27

Stuttgart: Juxtaposed Role: Conceptualization | Illustration | Visualization |

This is part of an ongoing project. The series of illustration of the existing landmarks in Stuttgart city tries to create a narrative around time and space. The

illustrations aim at creating a narration and inducing human emotion by juxtaposing the landmarks with super imposed environment and human figures. The elements of

Mecedez Benz Museum. (c) Ishika Alim 1

01| Stuttgart: Juxtaposed

Architectural Imagery

Personal project

surprise try to create a transition between time, add momentary pause and induce human emotion by creating a narration around time and space.

Porche Museum. (c) Ishika Alim 2

4

Introduction - IUSD WT 2019/20 - University Stuttgart, ILPÖ & SI

02| Integrated Agro Hub

Urban Ecology

Academic project

Life at the Edge Role: Conceptualization | Design | Visualization

A chemistry of land and water- that is what makes the deltaic landscape Bangladesh and from where we draw sustainance. Dhaka is also a product of that, although this intrinsic realationship of human, water and land is disappearing in the metropoliton.

KORAIL BASTI is the largest informal settlement in Dhaka city at the moment which is highly densed and subjected to land grabbing and land filling due to rapid migration of the farmers (mostly) in the capital from villeges and the periphery.

2004

2009

Here, the EDGE is where the biggest battle is taking place and here the instruments of landfill and land grabbing are in play along with the constant presence and flux of water.

The aim of the project is to turn this extremely polluted BLACK EDGE into a ‘productive’ BLUE-GREEN EDGE that will be beneficial to the locals in terms of Ecological, Economical and Social return so that they take care of the EDGE collectively.

Side by side offering a window for the migrated farmers and craftsmen to hoon their traditional ancestoral knowledge and skills to strengthen them from within.

2013

2015

fig: landfilling over the years Previously existing Ghat, used to be a mode of transport, currently unused due to encroachment

Only open space inside korail (Gov. school playground) Market Area

Water logging due to poor infrastructure Tendency of land encroachment by throwing waste towards the lakefront

Hight contrast of two social groups (Gulshan & Korail)

fig: mapping korail, problems and potential 4

Acknowledge the vulnerable and polluted black egde

Turning the black edge into a green-blue productive threshhold

Internal water channels to create a soakable community

Reviving the waterbody and connecting it with existing hatirjheel water transportation system

fig: marking the impact of the yearlong landfilling along the edge , four major goals were set to change the polluted black edge into productive green edge , water channels to solve seasonal flodding and better connectivity.

Mobility and Economy

connectivity | cheap mobility | regaining boat skills | economy Reactivating the ‘Ghat’ (Dock) for boat transportation that stopped due to encroachment.

Connecting with nearby Hatirjheel water route for better mobility

Strengthening the Community and Economy

regaining agricultural skills and wisdom | food production | economy Floating agriculture initiative can give scope for reviving the long lost traditional wisdom of floating agriculture, enhancing the skills of agro based migrated community and stop further encroachment along the edge by turning into a economic gain through agricultural production.

Ecological Buffer

flitration | Edge treatement | biodiversity |wellbeing Intentional untouched zones with local plantation/water purifying plants to regain the ecological balance, enrich the local flora and fauna and treating the edge as green lung in a highly densed area.

Social platforms

recreation | stakeholder platform | social engagement these platforms doen not only funtion as social gathering space, training area, evening school area or recreational floating platforms but also act as a connector to bring together all the stakeholders and NGOs that are working in Korail but in a fragmented manner. fig: Based on the four goals, four types of edges are proposed to reclaim the edge for economic, ecological and social sustainability

5

02| Life at the Edge

Urban Ecology

Academic Project

fig: regaining the craftmanship, boating and production skills of the agro based migrant comminity.

being in the heart of the dense capital , marginalized communities are constrained by not having cropping space in terms of access to and/or ownership of land. Moreover the seasonal water logging also becomes a long lasting problem. To cope with such situation, initiating the floating agriculture method, followed in bengal for hundred of years would solve the issue at hand. The lake itself has abundant water hyacinth which can be used as Dhap.

Dhap is a kind of hydroponics. This system employs the floating beds on the surface of water as the foundation of growing plants and crops without soil. Aquatic plants such as Tapapana, Dulalilata, Khudipana were used to construct floating beds dated back a few thousand years. fig: traditional method of floating agricultural beds for production.

Edge type: boating dock

Edge type:ecological buffer

Edge type: floating agriculture

Edge type: Social platforms

6

darker shades represent flood prone zone map produced based on multiple news article

03| Integrated Agro Hub

Urban Design Studio

Academic Project

Integrated Agro Hub Role: Conceptualization | Design | Visualization

This urban design project focusing on matrix „social void“ of Sylhet, one of the major cities of Bangladesh. The design process can be divided in two parts, documentation and analysis of the socialvoids (unused, used, productive, unproductive open spaces and waterbody) of the entire city in terms of social, economical and spatial aspect. The second part focused on strategic planning and design for wholistic transformation of the city. The design phase is only limited to a

particular site. Sylhet, laying on the bank of Surma river is surrounded by tea estates, hill tracts, rainforest and river valleys. The Rapid urbanization has projected a threat to the city’s voids (open spaces ) and water bodies which resulted into environmental degradation and occassional inundation. The project investigates the role of water and open spaces within the city as a medium to improve social life at the same time regain ecological balance.

envisioning a city with more perforated ground, more places to be wet where water and green spaces mitigate the effects of urban heat.

Water channels (locally known as 'chhara' spreading all over the city like a net are the life of Sylhet. They act as a root of the city. Intensifying and extending the role of these dying water bodies woud flourish and nourish the city both socially, economically and envinronmentally

fig: core concept, a root system to revitalize the water bodies along with the social life.

8

Void typology

Through mapping and analysis, it was found how the open areas converge with chharas flowing within the city.

This allows for the opportunity to work with the chharas and open spaces focusing on multiple purpose including recreation, social interaction agricultural production etc.

fig: proposed interconnection between public activilty and natural voids. The diagram represents the possibiltity of transforming the city into a social-waterscape that meets the local demand for public space as well as rejuvinates the local ecology.

9

03| Integrated Agro Hub

Urban Design Studio

Academic Project

Analysis of the social, economical and ecological context of the areas surrounding the voids and understanding the purpose the voids can serve to meet the demand.

trategic map diagram- proposed from the socio-economical analysis and site potential.

10

After a thorough analysis of the city, possible strategic maps were produced showign the unused voids can offer the city with diverse possibility to grow socio-economically.

Different zoned were proposed with different fuctions to thrive with. In this second phase more indepth study, analysis and design proposals are produced for a selected potential area.

fig: site with three major nodes, bus stops and highways

The site chosen for further analysis and detailed design solutions, Bejbari, is located on the southest corner of Sylhet city. This unique site is a marshy wetland and rests on the foot of Surma river that is on the verge of dying. Unlike the city center, the city the underdeveloped and the agro based minority group residing there are often overlooked. The site does not only have the potential to solve the seasonal flooding of the southeast area but also has tremendous possibility for turning the minor agro-based community seslf-sustained communtity by enhanced agricultural production and connectivity.

proposed integrated strategic map and zoning for transforming Bejbari area into and integrated agro hub.

visualizing different scenarios of the agrohub 11

03| Integrated Agro Hub

Urban Design Studio

The site has both pros and cons. However the cons can be solved with proper design process by integrating them with the pros.

The major strengths of the site are, three major bus stands, one railway station, two major highways crossing over the site and the agro based community with a produc-

Academic Project

tive wetland that contributes tremendously to the bio diversity and can also contribute solving the seasonal flooding issue if properly connected with the Surma river in future. Additional fuctions were proposed to interlink the existing fuctions for an integrated and sustainable loop.

visualizing different scenarios of the agrohub 12

13

04| Saiham Knit Landscape

Knit Factory Landscape Project

Professional Project

Saiham Knit Factory Role: Design team leader | Visualization |

The landscaping project for the saiham knit factory compprises a sensitive approach to reinstate the ecologocal balance into the area by incorporating more local flora and fauna within the limited scope of the factory area. The aim was also to help protect and conserve biodiversity and to aid in water purification and ground

water recharge with incorporating natural water body in the site area. Also to create example for future reference in landscaping and land development in the area that creates movement corridors for wild animals and other life forms.

listing and categorizing thse local flora and fauna for the landscape project.

14

Proposed master plan of the factory area.

Detail of window typology and landscaping typology given the imited space for intervention.

creeper wire mesh

creeper wire mesh

low height plants low height pla drainage drainage

road

Detail of window typology and landscaping typology given the imited space for intervention.

15

road

road

04| Saiham Knit Landscape

Knit Factory Landscape Project

Professional Project

sectional detail and the plantation detail in specific areas 16

Introduction - IUSD WT 2019/20 - University Stuttgart, ILPÖ & SI

17'-8"

B

09

10

1'-3"

5'-0"

2'-7"

3'-0"

2'-7"

2'-0"

1'-11" 1'-0" 1'-3"

1'-6"

3'-0"

5"

3'-0"

1'-5"

1'-3" 1'-0" 1'-11"

2'-0"

2'-7"

C.U.

1'-6"

4

5" 10" 1'-0" 1'-0"

5" 1'-5"

5" 1'-1"

A.C.

5" 1'-1"

5" 1'-5"

A.C.

" Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

BRICK CLADDING

E

10'-0"

BRICK CLADDING

03

1'-6"

16

05

2'-6"

O.A.F.C

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

18

BRICK CLADDING

R.C.C.

BRICK WALL

FALSE CEILING

A

FIXED WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

8'-1"

11'-1"

13'-0"

06 14

07

5'-1"

15

8'-4"

04

6'-4"

17

13

09 11

10

2'-11"

C.U.

2'-0"

1'-0"

5"1'-0"

1'-0"

B

08

1. All lintel bottom at 8'-9"/beam bottom from floor finish 2. O A F C : Opening above false ceiling Same dimension as Door, unless indicated.(Cat Door) 3. H.W : All high window from 4'-6"level to lintel.

4. Sliding door : All sliding door (Aluminium) from 3" sill to lintel 5. Railing : Railing from 3" sill to 3'-10" level.

6. R.C.C work top length in sink side will depend on the length of selected sink.

7. Take decision from owners before casting worktop in burner or floor mounted cooking range.

LEGEND :

1'-6" 1'-3"

10" 5"

A.C.

4'-6"

STAIR 12'-0"X8'-9"

5" 1'-6"

1'-3" 5"

12

08

4'-6"

2'-0"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

SUSTANTIVO

1'-6"

18

TOILET-3 7'-7"X4'-10"

02

2'-11"

" Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

NOT TO SCALE

721"

4'-0"

5" 1'-1"

5"

19

01

M.BED 13'-0"X11'-2"

DN

20

SLIDING DOOR FROM 3" SKIRTING TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

5'-10"

5'-0"

TOILET-2 5'-7"X4'-10"

3'-5"

21

10"

5"

HIGH WINDOW FROM 2'-6" SILL TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

1ST FLOOR WORKING PLAN

10'-7"

END OF SLAB & RALLING FROM 3" SILLTO 3'-10" HEIGHT

VERANDAH 4'-0"X5'-0"

5"

10"3"

FIRE HYDRANT

5" 1'-8"

6'-8"

LIFT 6'-8"X6'-5"

C.U. 5" 1'-6"

10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10"

10"

UP STAIR LOBBY 5'-11"X8'-9"

4'-6"

LIFT LOBBY 5'-1"X6'-0"

7'-7"

TOILET-3 7'-7"X4'-3"

5'-1"

M.S. LOUVER

VERANDAH 10'-7"X4'-0"

10" 1'-1" 5"

3'-9"

TYPE-B

5" 7"

5"

2'-6"

A.C.

10" 10" 5"

8"

BRICK CLADDING

7'-5"

3'-9"

TYPE-A

5'-0"

ELE. DUCT

TOILET-2 5'-0"X4'-3"

5'-10"

O.A.F.C

M.BED 13'-0"X11'-4"

07

4'-0"

1'-3"

5" 10"

1'-3"

1'-0"

1'-3"

5'-0"

4'-6"

5'-0"

4'-6"

13'-0"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

WOODEN LOUVER

14'-0"

LIVING CUM DINING 14'-0"X17'-2"

5"3"

8"

5"

9'-5" 13'-0"

FOLDING WOODEN DOOR FROM FLOOR TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

5" 1'-1" 10"

A

VERANDAH 12'-5"X4'-0"

12'-5"

SLIDING DOOR FROM 3" SKIRTING TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

5" 10" 10"

5"5"

1'-8"

1'-3"

9'-7"

9'-7"

9"

5'-0"

12'-3"

2'-7"

16'-10"

2'-4"

10'-4"

2'-1"

5"

1'-3" 5"5"

1'-0"

17'-8" 3'-0"

3'-4"

5'-3"

3'-0"

5" 1'-6"

11'-0"

3'-4"

2'-6"

O.A.F.C

FOLDING WOODEN DOOR FROM FLOOR TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

5"

2'-6"

5"

14'-0"

WOODEN LOUVER

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

LIVING CUM DINING 14'-0"X17'-2"

05

06

1'-3"

A.C.

S

3'-5"

C.BED 11'-0"X12'-3"

7'-3"

7'-2"

KITCHEN 7'-2"X7'-4"

5"

5" 1'-8"

VERANDAH 4'-0"X5'-0"

END OF SLAB & RALLING FROM 3" SILLTO 3'-10" HEIGHT 10'-0" BRICK CLADDING

4'-0"

C.U.

2'-0"

4'-2"

3'-4"

2'-6"

2'-6"

2'-0"

10"

7" 5"

5"

2'-6"

1'-3"

2'-1"

1'-3" 1'-0" 1'-11"

17'-2"

2'-0"

4'-10"

5" 1'-2" 5" 8"

5"

2'-10"

2'-4"

5"

5"

2'-7"

2'-0"

N

5'-9"

7'-2"

2'-6"

KITCHEN 7'-2"X7'-5"

5"

O.A.F.C 3'-4"

5"5"

1'-0" 1'-0" 1'-1" 5"

4'-0"

04

2.01

SEE DETAIL

2'-6"

3'-2"

4'-6"

721"

5"

1'-7" 5"

D.W.

2'-0"

1'-7" 5"

TOILET-1 6'-10"X4'-2"

5"

5'-4"

TOILET-1 6'-5"X4'-2"

03

2" 5" 5"1'-0" 1'-6"

SLIDING DOOR FROM 3" SKIRTING TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

11'-0"

5'-1"

5'-1"

C.BED 11'-0"X12'-3"

7'-3"

D.W.

02

FIXED WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

3.01

DT.02

4

W

C.U.

3"

1'-3" 1'-0" 4" 5"

5"6"

DT.03

3'-0"

01

2'-6"

1'-11" 7'-5"

3'-0"

3'-0"

1'-10" 7'-4"

2'-6"

1'-0"

1'-1"

3" 3"

SEE DETAIL

3

3'-0"

5" 1'-2"

2'-6"

5'-0" 4'-6"

2'-2"

5'-2"

3'-4"

1'-3"

12'-3"

4'-2"

17'-2"

17'-2"

3" 3" 1'-3" 10" 10" 10" 4'-0" 6" 5"5" 1'-10" 3'-4" 2'-2" 2'-6" 2'-6" 2'-0"

5"

2'-9"

2'-1"

2'-1"

2'-6"

4'-2" 5" 4'-2"

7'-5"

5"

7'-4"

1'-3"

3'-4"

5"

5" 3'-4" 3'-9" 2'-6" 2'-6"

15'-2"

M.S. LOUVER

17'-8"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF SLAB

2'-7"

3

5"

SUSTANTIVO

5"

R.C.C.

1'-0"

BRICK CLADDING

2'-4"

BRICK WALL

5'-3"

A

2'-11"

5'-0"

8'-4"

1'-3"

O.A.F.C

1'-5"

1'-10" 7'-4"

4'-0"

5"

9"

8'-9"

3'-9"

7'-4"

8'-4"

STAIR 12'-0"X8'-9"

4'-0"

1'-3" 5"

12'-3"

DN

1'-3" 5"5"

5'-1"

10

4'-6"

11'-1"

11

1'-3"

M.BED 13'-0"X11'-2"

09

4'-0"

6'-4"

12

5'-0"

8'-1"

08

1'-0"

TOILET-3 7'-7"X4'-10"

13

3'-4"

FALSE CEILING

07

5"

2'-6"

14

2'-1"

HIGH WINDOW FROM 2'-6" SILL TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

06

4'-6"

5" 2'-3" 2'-0" 3"1'-0" 5" 5'-2"

1'-3"

M.S. LOUVER " Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

WINDOW FROM 2'-0" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

15

1'-3"

E

A 10 story residential apartment building 'BPL Abtab's Dream' in Malibagh ChawdhuFLOOR WORKING ry1ST Para in the capitalPLAN city Dhaka. The NOT TO SCALE total built area 2407.46 sqft, comprises two unit residential apartment in each floor as per the requirement of the client.

3'-2"

BRICK CLADDING

5"

M.S. LOUVER HIGH WINDOW FROM 2'-6" SILL TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

1'-6"

2'-0"

BRICK CLADDING " Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

8'-9"

10" 5" 10'-6" 5"

4

4'-3"

3

10"

BRICK CLADDING 4

6'-5"

3

1'-6"

4'-10"

721" 4'-0"

3'-5"

05

2'-10"

5" 1'-1"

16

5"

10" 1'-1" 5"

04

10'-4"

4'-0" 24'-1"

1'-10" 1'-3" 10" 10" 5'-0" 2'-6" 3'-0"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

5'-10"

17

5" 10"

Role: VERANDAH Partial Design | Visualization | Construction Drawing END OF SLAB & RALLING FROM 3" SILLTO 3'-10" HEIGHT

4'-0"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

8" 5" 1'-2" 5"

10'-7"

VERANDAH 4'-0"X5'-0"

9"

14'-0"

5"

03

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

10'-7"X4'-0"

2'-0"

11'-0"

WOODEN LOUVER

5'-0"

18

HIGH WINDOW FROM 2'-6" SILL TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

TOILET-2 5'-7"X4'-10"

02

3

C.BED 11'-0"X12'-3"

10"

O.A.F.C

6'-5"

A.C.

5"

4'-0"

5"5"

5"5"

3'-4"

LIVING CUM DINING 14'-0"X17'-2" 19

" Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

FOLDING WOODEN DOOR FROM FLOOR TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

Aftab Dream Residence 7'-5"

1'-8"

01

7" 5"

2'-6"

10"3"

20

2'-0"

7'-3"

1'-3"

FIRE HYDRANT 21

5" 1'-2" 5" 8"

TYPE-B

5" 1'-8"

4

S

5"

3'-9"

BRICK CLADDING

W

5'-9"

3'-0"

4'-2"

5"

15'-2"

3'-4"

3'-0"

Small Residential Project

M.S. LOUVER

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

N TOILET-1 6'-10"X4'-2"

5"3"

3'-0"

BRICK CLADDING " Ø A.C. WATER PIPE.

721"

2'-6"

9'-7"

16'-10"

4

5" 10" 10"

3'-5"

5"

2'-4"

1'-7" 5"

7'-2"

5'-0"

D.W.

KITCHEN 7'-2"X7'-4"

4'-0"

5"

5"

4'-6"

1'-3"

5" 1'-1"

5" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10" 10"

WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF SLAB

3

M.S. LOUVER

C.U.

2'-0"

10"

3'-0"

10"

5"5"

1'-3"

5"

2'

4'-

3'-0"

WINDOW FROM 2'-0" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

B

5" 1'-5"

8'-4"

09

10"

HIGH WINDOW FROM 2'-6" SILL TO 7'-0" HEIGHT LINTEL LEVEL

05| Aftab's Dream

UP STAIR LOBBY 5'-11"X8'-9"

5"1'-0"

Professional Project

B

1'-0"

10" 5"

FIXED WINDOW FROM 3" SILL TO BOTTOM OF BEAM

1'-6" 1'-3"

10'-0"

1. All lintel bottom at 8'-9"/beam bottom from floor finish 2. O A F C : Opening above false ceiling Same dimension as Door, unless indicated.(Cat Door) 3. H.W : All high window from 4'-6"level to lintel.

4. Sliding door : All sliding door (Aluminium) from 3" sill to lintel 5. Railing : Railing from 3" sill to 3'-10" level.

6. R.C.C work top length in sink side will depend on the length of selected sink.

7. Take decision from owners before casting worktop in burner or floor mounted cooking range.

LEGEND :

06| Bamboo Playscape

Hands on Design-built Project

Participatory Project

Bamboo Playscape Role: Participatory design and build | Materiality | Bamboo | Handson

Incollaboration with the Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO), the project workshop was conducted by Paraa to develop an installation project that required to work with the community closely. The objective of the bamboo playscape was to provide the street kids of the LEEDO peace home with a playful space depending on the

demand of the each unique individual.

Moreover, the process involved an inntensive participatory process and hands on method for building the installation. The project involved working in different scales, negotiating theory and practice alongside exploring the potential of a material with a live architectural installation.

most important stakeholders: The kids of LEEDO Peace home.

participation process, model making and communicating with the stakeholders

the abmboo playscape inhabited by the children in LEEDO peace home 20

Modular unit for mobility. Can be used as container for the dismanteled panels when folded.

Units of the panels can be unfolded to have a platform for interaction providing user preference

Vertical panels are incorporated such a way that it can be folded according to the space requirement

While horizontal plane provides a platform for interaction, vertical planes creates a backdrop

Arrangements of these vertical panels can be changed through folding and unfoldeing , according to the space demand

More units can be added according to the location, site context and demand.

A micro public space visualization for Kindai Street Fest 19

07| Kindai Street Fest

Competetion Project

Individual Project

Kindai Street Fest Role: Indivdual project | Micro public space | Competition entry | Winner

The project focuses into designing a Micro Public Space along the Kindai University axis road for the First Kindai International Street Festival. With a view to generating a vibrant space for people all around the world as well as represent the cuture of the respective country, the project explores the useability of modular structure and incorporates a special cultural element,

Jamdani Fabric unique to Bengali culture.

Jamdani Sharee is not only used as an exhibit item but also acts as translucent panel allowing the play of light and shadow. Different color and fabric is proposed to encourage public gathering and give the space a warm and welcoming look.Both the bamboo and Jamdani panels are moveable and foldable.

folded unit turns in to public platform when unfolded.

Jamdani fabric as exhibit and sructural envelop. Light weight, has mobility and traditional vibrant space.

Formation of foldable jamdani panels

A cultural platform against colorful backdrop

single modular unit.

Provision for both vertical and horizontal expansion

multiple unit according to demand

Modular foldable bamboo panels for multiple use 22

Vulnerability & Coping Mechanism: A Case Study of Informal Tea Stalls in Public Spaces of Dhaka Role: Master thesis research project

The focus of the research, which started with an endeavor to understand infraordinary spaces— tea stalls, as a condition and catalyst for social coexistence and interaction, took a shift ever since I started looking into the elements more— especially after the drastic affect on the livelihoods of the vendors due to the unprecedented situation of Covid-19 lockdown. While here, I place the tea stall- the most widely existing type of street food stalls– Dhaka’s streets are lined with all kinds of food, sold through vendors, carrying degrees of informality, like most other south Asian countries. Despite having a significant role in building the socio-cultural landscape, these tea stalls, along with other food or good stalls, were

found to be extremely vulnerable to various forces which eventually project threats to their existence and livelihoods— especially amidst the pandemic the vulnerability of such spaces and the vendors surfaced as an alarming fact that needed to be addressed and looked into. Vulnerability research has been an important foundation of urban risk management for a safe and resilient city. It is expected that through understanding the different degrees of vulnerability would be helpful to understand the assets they have at disposal to ameliorate the vulnerability from a ‘community strengthening’ vantage point. Also, by tracking down the gaps prevailing in the institutional level.

How do different degrees of vulnerabilities affect the asset management of the vendors of informal tea stalls in Dhaka city and how it determines their operational methods, production of space and their livelihoods at large?

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08| Vulnerability and Coping

Master thesis

Academic Project

Objective

Methodology

1.

Understanding different degrees of vulnerability and their dynamics in operating the tea-stalls in an urban area.

2.

Unfolding the physical and social implications of the vulnerabilities and the responses of the vendors in order to survive and operate their business in a public arena.

3.

Constructing an asset portfolio and to find entry points for improvement at both community level and policy level.

The research took the grounded theory approach. A qualitative and explorative approach was taken. Using categorical coding approach validation of indicators, relationships between their vulnerability and adaptive capacity, and the sensitivity of subsequent vulnerability are explored. Data was collected through interviews with sellers, users and consumers, grey literature and newspapers articles were used as proxy since field research could not be done during pandemic.

fig: thoratical framework for the research

fig: relationship between the 'space vulnerability' and asset vulnerability framework 24

- The space of vulnerability is directly and indirectly regulated by the ‘landscape of power’ - They control and regulate the access to public spaces, also influences the operational methods and spatial typology of a vending unit - These actors in formal and informal relation also affect the asset management. It has been seen how the vendors used their savings, or sold their assets such as land in the village or belongings to pay off the bribe money or to get out of a fake case or to recover the loss from the eviction drive and confiscation of their goods.

- The formal and informal actors found to be related to political power holders, therefore it is difficult from the vendors side to form a collective resistance against such powerful forces.

- Since the organizations are constrained in Bangladesh from operating in any political capacity and existing vendor associations in Bangladesh have been thoroughly subordinated to ruling party political interests.

It was noticed that the intensity of different vulnerabilty and the priority concerns associated with it are remarkablity depends on the time, forces and geolocation.The vulnerability intensity before the pandemic changed during the pandemic and hence the coping mechanism. One of the basic tactic to avoid eviction is to transform the tea stall from permanent to more semi-par25

mamnent and mobile version. This mechanism was also followed during Covid lockdown. Most of the mobile vendors left the city for village and the permanent or semi permanent vendors started operating as mobile vendors to cope with the shock. However, changing typology also affects the income by reducing it and a slide down the poverty ladder as they change typology.

08| Vulnerability and Coping

Master thesis

Restricted Acccess Personalized relation

As long as this patronizing power structure remains the public space will not be free from their control. And this rigid control can only be diminished by the higher authority.

Hierarchy – vertical linking with the powerful actors for mutual benefits mutual obligation and benefit are constructed between unequal individuals through which negotiations around access to resources, protection, social mobility and political support take place.

Declining Tust

Such vertical relationships are not only asymmetrical and personal but alsouncertain, since they remain discretionary rather than formalized or rights based. This ‘linking’ social capital is based on only mutual benefit but not on trust (some actors involve in extortions )

Academic Project

Lack of lateral bond

barrier to Org. initiative

This personal transaction between two interested individuals is opposite to collective good. This personalized quality is a key reason as to why it remains difficult for vendors to build ‘horizontal’ relationships of solidarity among equals.

Despite numerous Organizations working on ground, the situation has merely changed due to this power structure and the personalized beneficial links. Also, political affiliation of some org puts all other in a difficult situation.

Therefore they bridge out to them

This becomes even mor e cr ucial in pr olonged vulner able situation, such as Covid-19. and it pr ojected possible futur e thr eats.

Loss of livelihoods Due to access restriction.

Huge health risk

Slide down the poverty ladder A new band of new poor and extreme poor emerged.

Risk of becoming net borrowers

Uncertainty Of the childrens’ future due to dropping out of school

A sterile public space without this activity.

fig: gaps and entry points in the top down and bottom up approach found after the research 26

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09| Photography

Freelancing

Personal Project

Photography Role: photography | architecture| fashion | conceptual |

For me, architecure and photography came hand in hand. Both complimented each other and I always found a connection.

My inclination towards photography, what started as a 'conceptual photography' grew more into the areas of architecture and fashion photography with time.

This particular project is a manifestation of fragments of various projects designed

by Architect Tadao Ando. The photostory exquisitely tried to capture and portray the materiality through it's texture and tone, also tries to express the idea how a piece of architecture can also be unique not just as a whole but also throgh different fragments , details and frames.

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Ishika alim +49 15223178399 ishikaalim10@gmail.com Leibnizstrasse 2, Aichtal 72631

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